Sizing and packing mechanism



May 15, 1951 J. CHRISTIAN SIZING AND PACKING MECHANISM 14 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 22, 1946 Jul-J a" @501: But v F X May 15, 1951 J, c ms2,552,620

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SIZING AND PACKING IJIEICI-IMJISM Filed April 22, 1946 14 sheets-sheet 4l MUM mm our Posmcu 3% 7g QMZWZ.

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I SIZING AND PACKING MECHANISM Filed April 22, 1946 l4 Sheets-Sheet 5May 15, 1951 J- CHRlSTlAN SIZING AND PACKING MECHANISM 14 Sheets-Sheet 6Filed April 22, 1946 J. CHRISTIAN SIZING AND PACKING MECHANISM May 15,1951 14' Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed April 22, 1946 May 15, 1951 J. CHRISTIANSIZING AND PACKING MECHANISM 14 Sheets-Sheet 8' Filed April 22, 1946 J.CHRISTIAN SIZING AND PACKING MECHANISM May 15, 1951 14 Sheets-Sheet 9Filed April 22, 1946 y 1951 J. CHRISTIAN SIZING AND PACKING MECHANISM 14Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed April 22, 1946 o o o o o O'EIIQ:

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May 15, 1951 J. CHRISTIAN I SIZING AND PACKING MECHANISM 14 Sheets-Sheet13 Filed April 22, 1946 0% m mog May 15, 1951 J. CHRISTIAN SIZING ANDPACKING MECHANISM 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed April 22, 1946 Jack 72 WOWPatented May 15, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 29 Claims.

1 This invention relates to a mechanism for automatically sizing andpacking articles and more particularly to an apparatus for automaticallyselecting articles of substantially the same size from a supply ofarticles of various sizes, such as celery stalks or other vegetables andfor packing such selected articles into a container.

One of the objects of the present invention resides in the provision ofa mechanism so constituted as to automatically grade or size celerystalks or other vegetables in such a manner as to enable automaticpacking into crates or forms of all units of the same size irrespectiveof the fact that units of variable sizes are fed to the mechanism.

Another object is to provide automatic sizing and packing apparatuscomprising a plurality of mechanisms arranged in cooperation with aconveyor to which is fed a succession of celery stalks or other units ofvariable sizes, each mechanism being so arranged as to automaticallyselect and pack celery stalks or units of a particular size.

A further object comprehends an arrangement of the above character whichis constituted as to perform the automatic sizing and packing operationswithout attention on the part of the operator and Without injury to thecelery stalks or other units.

Still another object is to provide a novel construction of the foregoingcharacter which is op erated by power to the end that the variousmovements of sizing and packing the units will be positive in character.

A still further object resides in the provision of a novel timing orgoverning mechanism for an apparatus of the above type, so constructedand arranged as to automatically control the various steps in theoperation of the apparatus.

A still further object resides in the construction of the aforementionedtiming mechanism in such a manner that the same may be readily adjustedin order to vary the timing of various of the parts of the mechanism inorder to secure desired variations in the assembly of celery stalks,thus enabling different machines to be readily adjusted to pack the samesize crates with variable numbers of celery stalks of differentdiameters.

A further object resides in the novel constructions and associations ofparts for the purpose of rendering the same capable of economicalmanufacture, ease of operation and adjustment, and ready repair orreplacement of parts.

Other objects and novel features of the invention will appear more fullyhereinafter from the in drawings.

following detailed description of the invention when taken in connectionwith the accompany- It is to be expressly understood, however, that thedrawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and are notdesigned as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference beinghad for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters refer to similarparts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a plurality of automatic sizingand packing machines constructed in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention and shown in association with a conveyor alongwhich the celery talks or other articles to be sized and packed areconducted;

V Fig. 2 is a side View of one of the machines of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial side view of the crate shifting and crate supportingmechanism;

Fig. 4: is a plan view of the sizin and packing machine, certain partshaving been removed in order to illustrate the construction moreclearly;

Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view of a portion of the sizing andejecting control device;

Fig. 6 is a partial front view of certain of the parts of Fig. 5 andillustrating also the timing or governing mechanism for controlling thevarious operations of the machine;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the frame of the assembly mechanism andillustrates the manner of connection of one of the assembly elementsthereon;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View taken along lines 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a partial sectional view illustrating the method ofincorporation of the assembly elements on the frame of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a partial side view of a portion of the ejecting mechanismand illustrates also certain parts of the timing mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a partial perspective view of the assembling mechanism andillustrates the construction for automatically dumping the layers ofcelery stalks which are assembled to one side of the conveyor;

Figs. 12 and 13 are partial perspective views of details of theconstruction of Fig. 11;

Figs. 14 and 15 are diagrammatic side views of the assembling mechanismillustrating the steps of assembling and dumpin the first two layers ofcelery stalks;

Fig. 16 is a top view of the assembling mechanism;

Figs. 17, 18, 19 and 20 are partial plan views showing various steps inthe operation of the crate reversing apparatus;

Fig. 2i is a partial plan View or" certain of the mechanism for shiftingthe filled crate to unloading position and shifting an empty crate intoassociation with the packing mechanism;

Figs. 22 and 23 are transverse sectional views taken respectively alonglines 22-12 and 23-23 of Fig. 1'7;

Fig. 24 is a perspective view of the controlling valve mechanism withthe cover plate removed;

Fig. 25 is a view similar to Fig. 24 except that the valves have beenremoved;

Fig. 26 is a perspective view of the valve housing cover plate;

ig. 27 is an axial sectional view of one of the valves of Fig. 24;

Figs. 28 and 29 are perspective views of one of the valve elements ofFig. 24;

Figs. 30 to 45 inclusive are diagrammatic illustrations or" variouspositions or" the timing mechanism in order to illustrate the controlor" the various operations of the sizing and packing apparatus, and

Fig. 46 is a partial perspective view of the mechanism for lifting acrate or form off of the crate supporting arms and illustrating thecelery stalk receiving arms in raised position.

In its broader aspect, the present invention comprehends a mechanism forautomatically selecting units of the same size from a group of units ofdifierent sizes and for automatically packing a predetermined number ofthe selected units in a crate or receptacle. A bank of these machines isassociated with a traveling supply of the variable sized units in such amanner that successively smaller units are selected and packed by themachines proceeding from the first machine to the last.

In its more specific aspect, the invention is particularly adapted forthe sizing and grading of celery stalks or other vegetable units ofelongated form and of different sizes or diameters. In using machinesconstructed in accordance with the present invention, a number ofmachines are associated with a traveling conveyor on which the celerystalks of various sizes and in washed condition are passed inlongitudinally spaced relationship. The largest size of stalk isautomatically sized and packed by the first machine, the neXt largestsize by the second machine, and so on down the bank of machines, and theconstruction is such that, while all of the crates packed by the variousmachines may be of the same exterior dimensions, the machines willautomatically pack the proper number of celery stalks of similar size ineach crate to secure a filled crate. Of particular importance, as willappear more fully hereinafter, is the construction whereby the celerystalks are arranged in layers of various numbers and with differentnumbers of stalks in difierent layers, the resultant arrangementprecisely simulating the packs heretofore made by hand.

Referring more particularly to Fig. l, a plurality of machines t, 5! and52, forming, for example, the first three machines of a bank of anysuitable number, are shown as being associated with a conveyor 53 of theendless belt type and along which the celery stalks are conveyed inspaced longitudinal alignment. Machine 59 is adjusted to size and packthe largest of the celery stalks, 5i the next largest, and so on. All ofthe machines are similar in construction, the only difference being thatof the size of certain of the parts and the adjustment of the variouselements in order to size and pack celery stalks of a desired diameter.Hence, in the ensuing description, a single machine will be described indetail and reference will be had to certain of the parts which may beadjusted in order to effect sizing and packing of stalks of differentdiameters.

The machines of Fig. 1 comprise essentially a sizing mechanism 5iadapted to be contacted and moved by a celery stalk of the desireddiameter. Actuation of the sizing mechanism causes operation of anejecting and assembling device 55 which ejects the sized stalk to oneside of the conveyor. As successive stalks are ejected and assembled toone side of the conveyor, they rest upon a pair of dump plates 56 andSi, and, when the desired number of stalks are assembled on these platesfor the first layer of celery, a power operated clumping device 58 isoperated to move the plates ES and 5? apart in order to dump theassembled layer of celery stalks into a crate 6'! positioned beneath themachine, as illustrated. These dump plates are automatically moved toclosed position and, at a suitable time during assembly of the secondlayer of celery stalks, the crate is automatically rotated through Thisoperation reverses the position of the layer of celery in the crate withrespect to the second layer being assembled so that, when the secondlayer is dumped, the butt ends of the stalks of the sec-end layer willoverlie the leafy ends of the stalks of the first layer. As successivelayers of stalks are dumped, this crate reversing operation takes placeup to the time when the last layer is dumped.

For purposes of illustration, the present invention will be described inconnection with a machine so adjusted as to pack a crate containing sixdozen, or seventy-two, stalks, known as Number 6s in the trade. Incrates of this size, as they are now packed by hand, seven layers areemployed, the first and seventh layer including eleven stalks each whilethe five intermediate layers include ten stalks. Referring again to Fig.1, as the seventh layer of eleven stalks is dumped or at some suitabletime thereafter, as for example during assembly of the first layer ofthe next crate, a crate shifting mechanism '59 is automatically operatedto shift thepreviously filled crate away from the assembling mechanismand move an empty crate beneath the dump plates 55 and 57. As shown, thecrate are supported by pairs of oppositely extending arfns 50, iii, $2and 6-3, filled crates being illustrated at 64 and 55, while an emptycrate is shown at 55. The crate 6! is in the process of being packed.Filled crates EC- and 65 may be readily removed and placed upon aconveyor for transmission to a suitable location for precooling andsubsequent shipment. A timing or governing mechanism 68 is associatedwith each of the machines for controlling the timing of the variousoperations incident to the packing of the celery stalks, as Will appearmore fully hereinafter.

With the above general description of the manner of operation of theautomatic sizing and packing machine of the present invention in mind,reference will now be had to the remaining figures of the drawingsillustrating in detail one machine adapted to pack celery stalks knownin the trade as Number (is Referring more'particularly to Fig. 2, a sideview of the machine 50 is illustrated therein and includes a base 69 onwhich various parts of the machine are mounted. The machine alsoincludes a suitable frame 70 for supporting other parts in cooperativerelationship including the assembling mechanism 55, dumping mechanism 58and the timing mechanism 68. Other parts of this frame will be referredto as the description of the various elements proceeds.

As heretofore stated, the automatic sizing and packing mechanism of thepresent invention is associated with a traveling conveyor on which thecelery stalks are placed in longitudinally spaced alignment. Referringto Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the celery stalks are conveyed to the mechanism onbelt 53, and, during their travel, come first to the sizing mechanism5t. This mechanism includes a sizing roller II, Figs. 4 and 6, which issuitably rotatably mounted upon an arm I2 in spaced relation withrespect to and overlying the belt 53. One end of the arm is pivotallysupported in. a portion is of the frame and this end is adjustablysecured as by means of con nection "It to a lever 55. The lower end ofthe latter is connected to a longitudinally movable rod 16 which is somounted as to be reciprocable and guided in a portion ll of the frame.Normally, the weight of the sizing roller II maintains the abovedescribed parts in the position shown in Fig. 6 wherein the lower end oflever I5 abuts a suitable stationary stop 78. However, in the event thata celery stalk of sufiicient size contacts and moves roller 'iIupwardly, it will be understood that the .rod F5 is moved to the left,as viewed in Fig. 6, for a purpose which will appear hereinafter. Inview of the adjustable connection "I4 between the lever '15 and arm 12,it will be readily understood that the relative positions of these twoparts may be adjusted in order to permit variation of the normaldistance between roller 'H and the belt. This adjustment is provided sothat each of the various machines may be calibrated to size celerystalks of the desired diameters.

Assuming that a celery stalk of sufficient size conveyed along belt 53contacts roller II and moves the latter upwardly a slight amount asabove described, the present invention comprehends the provision of anovel arrangement for subsequently ejecting from the belt the stalkwhich has thus contacted and moved the roller. The arrangement providedis, moreover, such that all of the stalks which thus successivelycontact and move the sizing roller are ejected from the conveyor at thesame point, and, thus ejected and conveyed to one side of the conveyor.will be in precise alignment. This will material y facilitate theassembly of the stalks and the subsequent dumping of a layer of stalksinto the crate as heretofore described. To this end, a gate "I9 ispositioned to overlie the belt 53 following the sizing roller 1 I, Figs.1 and 5. Normally, when the roller "II is not contacted and moved, thegate is maintained in an elevated position, as indicated at 88 in dottedlines, Fig. 5. Under these conditions, celery stalks of a sizeinsufficient to contact and move the roller H will proceed along withthe belt and pass beneath the gate I9 in its thus elevated position, andsuch stalks will proceed to the next machine wherein the roller II islocated closer to the belt 53. How ever, if, as above indicated, theroller II is contacted and moved by a stalk of suiiicient size,

the mechanism provided by the present invention will operate to move thegate 79 to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5, and, as soon asthe celery stalk which operated the roller II reaches and contacts thegate 18, the ejecting and assembling mechanism 55 will be automaticallyplaced in operation to eject the stalk to one side of the conveyor.

In order to control the action of the above mentioned gate and theoperation of the ejecting and assembling mechanism, there is provided anovel control device including a spring mechanism 8 I, see Figs. 5 and6. As shown, this mechanism includes a pair of discs 82 and 83 freelyrotatably mounted upon a stub shaft 83 secured to a portion 84 of theframe. These discs are interconnected by a spiral spring 85, the springbeing of such nature as to be capable of. action in opposite directions.The disc 32 has secured thereto a depending controlling finger 35. Disc83 is rotated in opposite directions in response to opposite movementsof an ejector motor 87, Fig. 2, the connections for securing suchmovements including an arm 83, a link 89 and a member 90 operativelyassociated with the upper end of a lever 9| moved in response toenergization of the motor 8?.

Also connected to the disc 82 is a pin 92 operatively connected with avalve operating element 93, the latter controlling a valve device 94,Fig. 24, for effecting energization of the ejector motor 81 in oppositedirections. The latter is preferably operated in one direction byapplication of compressed air thereto and in the other direction byexhausting of the compressed air and application of vacuum to the sameend of the motor, and, as shown in Fig. 5, the parts heretoforedescribed are in the normal position wherein the ejecting motor 81 iscompletely energized. in one direction by a suitable source of vacuum.Finger 36 depending from the disc 82 cooperates with a finger 95 securedto and projectin from a sleeve 36 secured to a shaft 9?, the latterbeing suitably rotatably supported in a portion of the frame throughbearing portions 38 and 99. Also secured to the shaft 97 is a finger I96which is associated with a tripping mechanism IOI for controlling theoperation of the gate 19. A spring I02 having one end secured to theshaft 9'7 and its other end bearing against a stationary portion I03 ofthe frame normally urges the shaft 9! in a clockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 5, in order to maintain the parts 95 and ISO in theposition shown in this figure. Sleeve 96 and finger 95 secured theretomay be moved in a counterclockwise direction through cooperation betweena finger I84, carried by the disc 33, and rod I05, secured to sleeve 96,this action being eifected when the disc 83 is rotated in the properdirection as to bring the parts we and I65 into engagement.

More particularly, the tripping mechanism IDI includes a pair of camsI65 and IE1 secured to a shaft I08, the latter carrying the gate I9 andbeing suitably rotatably mounted in a portion of the frame as by meansof a bearing portion I09. As heretofore mentioned, the gate 79 isnormally in such a position as that indicated at B0 in Fig. 5, and,under these conditions, shaft I88 occupies the position as shown in Fig.6. Gravity acting upon the gate 79 will tend to move the shaft I08 in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in this figure. This tendency iscounteracted and the gate I9 positively held in its elevated positionthrough cooperation between a cam surface III) on cam Ill? and the upperend of a member III, the latter being suitably carried on a stub shaftH2 rotatably mounted as by bearing H3 in a portion of the frame. Asshown, member III bears against a suitable stationary stop i I4 when theparts occupy the position shown in Fig. 6. As the rod I6 is moved to theleft, as viewed in Fig. 6, in response to movement of roller II by acelery stalk of proper size, a pin H5 carried by the rod I5 engages thelower portion of member II I and moves the latter in a clockwisedirection to the position illustrated in Fig. 5. During such clockwisemovement of the member I I I, the upper end thereof cooperates with thecam portion H and also cam portion N6 of the cam I0! and it will bereadily understood that, during this operation, as the upper end of themember III passes beyond a line joining the centers of shafts I88 andH2, the gate 19 will drop by gravity to the position illustrated in Fig.5. As shown in Fig. 6, an abutment Ill? may then engage stop H4. Duringthis operation, the outer end II! of cam I06 slips by the lower end ofthe finger I so that the latter is placed in cooperation with thesurface H8 of the end i ll. During the movement of the end III past theend of finger IE3, the latter, sleeve 95 and finger 95 are moved aslight degree in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5. Thisaction, however, serves to merely move the end of the finger 95 furtherbeyond the end of finger 86. At this time, it is desired to point outthat, with the parts occupying the position shown in Fig. 5, the disc 82is prevented from clockwise movement through the abutment of finger 85with finger 95 and that, during the vacuum controlled return of theejecting cylinder, moving disc 83 in a clockwise direction, the spring85 has been tensioned. Were it not for the cooperation between thefingers 85 and 95, the disc 82 would be rotated in a clockwisedirection. It is thus seen that, with the tension in the spring 85,should the finger 95 be moved out of contact with finger 86, the disc 32would be free to rotate in a clockwise direction with a snap action inorder to promptly and quickly move the valve operating rod 93 upwardly,as viewed in Fig. 5, in order to move the valve 94 to a position tosupply air pressure to the ejecting cylinder 8'I.

In order to effect the release of the interlock between the fingers 86and 55, the parts are so arranged that, as soon as a sized celery stalkengages the plate I9 and moves the same a very slight distance, the camIt will move in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, and the endIII thereof will move the finger I05 to such an extent that the latter,sleeve 95 and finger 95 will be moved in a counterclockwise directionabout the shaft 97. Prior to the time when the finger Hi slips past theend II! of the cam I05, the movement of the parts Hit, 96 and 95 will besufficient to bring the outer end of the last named element out ofcontact with the lower end of the finger 86. Thus, the disc 82 will bereleased and will rapidly operate the valve 95 under the influence ofthe energy stored up in the spring 35 and supply compressed air to theejecting cylinder 8?. By means of mechanism to be described hereinafterand including an ejecting assembly element I I9, Fig. 5, the celerystalk actuating the gate I9 will be promptly and effectively removedlaterally from the belt 53.

It is desired to call attention to the fact that, as the ejecting motor81 operates in response to the application of compressed air thereto, asabove described, the lever 9! will be moved in a clockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 2, in order to advance the member 5% and parts connectedthereto, see Fig. 5. However, it will be understood that, as soon as theend of finger I00 passes by the end III of the cam I06, the spring I02acting on shaft 91 will return the latter and parts connected thereto tothe position shown in Fig. 6. Hence, the finger 95 will be returned to aposition for engagement with the lower end of finger 85 as the latter ismoved in a counterclockwise direction in response to advance movement ofthe member 95, counterclockwise movement of the disc 83 and coiling ofthe spring 85 in the opposite direction. It is pointed out that theabove described movement of disc 82 to effect the rapid opening of thevalve 94 is relatively slight and, after the finger Hill has cleared thecam I as aforesaid, the end of finger 95 just slips behind the lower endof the finger 86. Hence, during the ejecting movement of the ejectingmotor and the winding up of spring 85, as above described, the finger 85will be brought into contact with the finger 95 and disc 82 will beprevented from rotating counterclockwise. Valve 94 will be maintained inits compressed air supplying position under these conditions.

During the energization of the motor 87, as

above described, the member III is returned to the position shown inFig. 6. The means for effecting this result includes an arm I26 securedto the disc 83 and adapted to be raised during the ejecting movement tobring a return cam 'I2I into engagement with the lower end of the memberIII, thus cani-ming the latter to the normal position. It will also beunderstood that, during this latter operation, cams I06 and It! arereturned to normal position and that the gate 719 is raised for asubsequent operation. As the continued counterclockwise movement of thedisc 83 occurs, and the stressing of spring 85 continues, the pin I54will finally contact the member I65 secured to sleeve 95 and the latterand parts secured thereto will be moved in a counterclockwise direction.This action will move the lower end of the finger 95 out of contact withrespect to the rear portion of the finger 86, as viewed in Fig. 5,whereupon the energy stored in the spring 85 will rapidly and promptlyrotate the disc 82 in a counterclockwise direction in order to move thevalve operating rod 53 and valve 94 downwardly. This action of the valveoccurs at about the limit of the ejecting stroke of the ejecting motor87 and cuts ofi the supply of compressed air to the motor and conmeetsthe same to the source of Vacuum. Thus, the ejecting cylinder ispromptly returned to its normal position, and, since the lower end ofthe finger 95 has now slipped in front of finger 86 through operation ofthe spring 52, the disc 82 is prevented from rotating in a clockwisedirection as the disc 83 is rotated in this direction in order to storeenergy in the spring 85 for a subsequent sizing and ejecting operationas heretofore described.

The assembling and ejecting mechanism 55 is preferably constructed insuch a manner as to be capable of intermittent operation in the samedirection for ejecting and assembling stalks of celery as they are sizedby the roller ll. More particularly, and as illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10inclusive, such mechanism includes a plurality of assembly or ejectingelements H8 adapted to be removably mounted upon a pair of spacedapartendless guides or tracks I22 and I23. As shown, each ejector element H9is provided with a support I2 9 to which is secured an outwardlyextending plate having a continuous section I25 9 and one or more tinesI26. The tines and sections I are suitably curved, as illustrated inFigs. 7, 9 and 10, to conform generally with the curvature of the celerystalks, the section 925 being adapted to cooperate with the butt ends ofthe stalks while the tines perform the function of cooperating with theleafy parts of the stalks. The supports 24 for the ejector elements areprovided with slotted openings IZ'E, I22} and I25? and similarly spacedslots its, Iili 532 are formed in the guides E22 and 23 in such a man--her that, as the openings 21, 28 and IE9 are placed over the aforesaidslots, the supports will slip downwardly until the openings registerwith the guides. The support may then he slid for Wardly, as illustratedin Fig. 9, and another sup--.

port fitted onto the guides. In this manner, an endless series ofejector elements are easily and readily associated with the tracks and,due to the construction of the openings I2l, I28 and I28, these elementsmay be moved in one direction about the track in an intermittent mannerand without danger of becoming disconnected with the guides. The lattermay preferably be constructed in such a manner as to have a slightincline as the assembly elements are drawn across the conveyor for thepurpose of ejecting sized celery stalks, this arrangement facilitatingthe slight lifting action of the assembly elements exerted on the stalksduring ejection thereof in order to lift them slightly out of contactwith re spect to the conveyor belt. This slight incline is illustratedin Figs. 9 and 10 at the lower portion thereof and directly above thebelt 53. A suitable supporting mechanism. including plates or arms I22and I23 is provided for mounting the assembly mechanism on the frame.

In order to associate the ejecting elements with the ejecting motor 31,the latter is provided with a piston I33 housed within a cylinder I34,the latter being suitably mounted at one end upon a bracket 535 fixed tothe frame member '10, Figs. 2 and 10. A piston rod E36, connected to thepiston I33, extends outwardly through the opposite end of the cylinderand has secured thereto an actuating member I31 to the end of which ahook-shaped pawl I38 is pivoted. Normally, the pawl is resiliently urgedas by means of a spring I39 against a stop I 40 carried by the memberI31, this construction serving to limit the clockwise movement of thepawl, as viewed in Fig. 10. The construction is such, however, that, asthe member 53? is moved to the right prior to reaching the positionshown in Fig; 10, the pawl is cammed upwardly over and drops intoengagement with a pin I ll carried by each of the ejector elements so asto be capable of positively drawing the engaged element laterally acrossthe belt 53 to eject a sized celery stalk upon application of thecompressed air to the ejecting motor 81 in the manner heretoforedescribed. The cylinder I34 is provided with a fluid connection M2through which compressed air and vacuum, controlled by valve ea, areselectively conducted in order to move the piston to eject the celerystalk and to subsequently return the piston l33 to the normal positionshown in Fig. 10.

Lever 9!, referred to heretofore, is pivotally mounted intermediate itsends on a stub shaft I43 mounted on a suitable portion of the frame, theupper end of the lever 9| being connected to the member 98 while thelower end is connected with the member I31 at a pivot I44 whichassociates the pawl I38 with the member I 31. With such an arrangement,it will be readily per-- 10 ceived that, as fiuid pressure is conductedthrough conduit H42 to the cylinder I3 l, the piston I33 will be movedto the left, as viewed in Fig. 10; and the piston rod I36 and member I31will be moved in the same direction. The engaged ejecting element willthereupon be moved along the guides H22 and I23 and promptly movedacross the belt 53 to engage and eject the sized stalk of celery, and,as the ejecting element so moved clears the belt, it will engage thepreviously moved ejecting element and slide the entire assembly ofelements a predetermined distance around the guides I22 and I23, seeFig. 9. As soon as the ejecting operation has been completed and thevalve is moved to a position to supply vacuum to the conduit H42 in themanner heretofore described, the piston l33 will be drawn back to theopposite end of the cylinder I34, thus moving member I31 and pawl I38 tothe right, as viewed in Fig. 10. lhe next succeeding ejecting elementwill then be in a position where the pin' I4I carried thereby may beinterlocked with the pawl I38 for a subsequent ejecting action whichwill not occur until another celery stalk operates the sizing roller '1I. It will be understood from Fig. 8 that the pin MI projects outwardlybeyond the edge of plate I25 so as to be readily engageable by the pawl38. The construction is also such that, after members :31 and I38 havemoved one of the ejecting elements through an ejecting stroke, theseparts may return to the position shown in Fig. 10, leaving the ejectingelement in its new ejected position.

In sizing and packing a crate of celery stalks of N0. 6 size, it hasbeen heretofore pointed out that,

by the present invention, the first layer of eleven stalks is assembledas a unit and then dumped into the crate or form. Thereafter, fivelayers of ten stalks each are assembled to be followed by the last layerof eleven stalks. Referring more particularly to Figs. 4, l1 and 14 to16 inclusive, the assembling and dumping operations will now bespecifically described. As illustrated in these figures, as thesuccessively sized stalks are ejected, as heretofore set forth, they areconfined between adjacent assembly elements I I9, as shown in Fig. 14.As these elements are moved by the ejector motor S's", they move thealigned celery stalks across the pair of dump plates 56 and 5?, thelatter being normally in the position shown in Fig. 11 but capable ofoutward movement with respect to each other for the purpose of dumping alayer of celery at the proper time during operation of the mechanism.These dump plates are slidably mounted on frame portions 541 and I48, asillustrated in Fig. 14. As will also appear from the latter figure,eleven stalks constituting the first layer of celery have been assembledon the dump plates and are ready to be released into an empty crate 67positioned centrally beneath the plates and preferably the layer ofcelery will be received by a celery receiving device I49. Normally, thislatter device is positioned as shown in Fig. 14 so that the layer ofstalks, when dumped, will not have to drop to the bottom of the crate.Mechanism to be hereafter described is automatically operable as thesuccessive layers are dumped to lower the device I49, and, for example,as shown in Fig. 15, such device has been lowered following thereception of the first layer of celery to the position shown and it willbe readily perceived that the second layer, ready to be dumped, as shownin this figure, will only drop through substantially the same distanceas the first layer when the dumping operation occurred in Fig. 14.

Means are provided for operating the dump plates 56 and 51 by fiuidpressure, and, as shown in Fig. 11, such means include a dumping motor58 including a cylinder I56 having a piston II therein and normallyoccupying the position illustrated during assembly of a layer of celerystalks. The cylinder I56 is provided with a combined compressed air andv vacuum conduit I52, controlled by valve I52 Fig. 24, and, as vacuum isconducted through such conduit, the piston I51 takes the position shown.Each of the dump plates 56 and 51 is connected. through respectivepivoted link devices I53 and I54 with shafts I55 and I56, the latterbeing rotatably mounted in a portion of the frame mechanismin anysuitable manner, as by means of bearing portions I51 and I58. From thisconstruction, it will be perceived that, in, the event shafts I55 andI56 are rotated one complete revolution in the same direction from theposition shown in Fig. 11, the link devices I53 and I5 !v will beeffective to slide the dump plates 56 and. 51 apart a. sufficientdistance to. dump the layer of celery stalks resting thereon, and tothen return the plate to the position illustrated.

In order to interconnect shafts I55 and I56 with the dumping motor 58,the said shafts are provided with sprocket wheels I59 and I66respectively, these wheels having respective pins I6I and I62 cooperablewith teeth I63 and I64 formed in an actuating angle bar I65 fixedlysecured by bracket I66 to a piston rod I61 connected to the piston I5I.As shown in Fig. 14, the bar I 65 may be supported for reciprocablemovement from the frame I41 as by means of one or more supportingmembers I68. The arrangement is such that movement of piston I5I to theopposite end of the .cylinder I50 in response to the application ofcompressed air to conduit I52 will move the bar I65 to the left, asviewed in Fig. 11, and the cooperation of the parts I63, I6I and I64,I62 will move the sprocket wheels I59 and I66 one complete revolution toeffect the aforesaid dumping movement of the dump plates and return ofthese plates to the initial position. The above described mechanism is,moreover, such that, when the compressed air to conduit I52 is cut offand Vacuum is applied thereto, the piston I5I and bar I65 will bereturned to the position illustrated without effecting any movement ofthesprocket wheels I59 and. I66. Thus, the parts will be returned forsubsequent dumping operation. While there has been illustrated asprocket wheel and rack construction for operating the shafts I55 andI56, it will be readily understood that any suitable mechanism may-beutilized for rotating these shafts in such a manner as toeffect onerevolution of movement in response to a power stroke of the dumpingmotor.

Referring to Fig. 1-3, the parts are shown just afterthe bar I65 hasreturned to normal position. In this figure, it will be perceived that apair of the pins I62 have been connected by a bar I69 which slides alongthe top of teeth I6d as the bar is returning to normal position. Thisconstruction avoids any possibility of any of the pins I62 being engagedby the teeth in order to effect an undesired movement of the sprocketwheel. A gravity actuated pawl I16, pivotally mounted at I1I to the barI65, has an end I12 normally in engagement with anabutment I13 on thewheel I66. Thus, as the bar I65 is moved to the right, as viewed in Fig.13, cooperation between the end I12 and abutment I13 will causecounterclockwise movement of the Wheel I 66 and the lefthand extremityof the bar I68 will be actuated by the first tooth I 64 and thus adrivable connection will be established between the bar and wheel. Asthe bar continues movement to the right, as viewed in this figure, inresponse to movement of the piston I51, the wheel I68 will make onecomplete revolution, due to the cooperation of teeth I64 and pins I62,andwill be returned to the position shown in Fig. 13, the bar I69 thenresting upon a portion I'M of the bar I65. Thus, the complete revolutionof the sprocket wheel I59 referred to above will have taken place andthe bar I65 may be returned to normal position without effecting anyfurther movement of the sprocket wheel. It will be understood that asimilar gravity actuated pawl I15 is associated with the sprocket wheelI59 in precisely the same manner so that simultaneous rotation of theshafts I55 and I56 will occur during a power stroke of the dumping motor58.

While, in many instances, a dumping of the celery stalks by gravityalone may be sufiicient, it has been found desirable to positivelyproject or impel the layer of stalks as soon as the dump plates haveopened a suflicient distance to permit the layer to drop by gravity.Such a construction enables the layer to be projected downwardly intothe crate more rapidly than would be effected by gravity dropping and,moreover, insures that the stalks will be maintained in proper assembledposition. Thus, any possibility of one stalk becoming disaligned withrespect to another is avoided and the layer is deposited in the crate ina neat and aligned fashion. To this end, the present invention includesa pair of tamper bars I16 and I11, these bars being normally positioned,as shown in Fig. 11, to be located just above the butt and leafy ends ofthe stalks as they are being assembled in a layer on thedump plates 56and 51. Tamper bar I16 is supported adjacent its opposite ends by arms[18 and I19, the opposite ends of these arms being secured to a shaftI89 rotatably mounted as by means of bearing portions IBI in asuitablepart of the frame. An actuating arm I83 adjustably secured to the shaftI8 3 is provided with an end I85 adapted to cooperate with a cam I65secured to the shaft I56. End I84 has secured thereto a member I86provided with a hooked end I81 with which a pin I88 carried by the camcooperates. With this construction, as the dumping motor 58 is energizedto rotate shaft I56, as heretofore described, cam I85 also rotates andthe surface of this cam during its initial movement is so formed as tocause little or no movement of the shaft I85 and tamper bar I16.However, whenthe dump plate 51. has been moved, through rotation ofshaft I56, to a distance such that the plate releases the butt ends ofthe layer of celery stalks, pin I88 engages end I81 of the arm I85 torapidly move the arm 7 I83 downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 11,, to effectcorresponding rapid downward movement of the tamper bar I16 through theshaft I85 and members. I18 and I19. Cam I65 is so contoured that, whenthis action is effected, the downward movement of the arm I83 can. takeplace. Thus,as the butt ends of the celery stalks are being released byremoving the dump plate 51, the tamper bar I16 i'senergized topositively depress the butt ends downwardly so as to maintain them inprecise alignment as the are forced into the crate and upon the-celery.receivingv device I69.

Substantially the same construction is provided for controlling theaction of the tamper bar In which cooperates with the leafy ends of thestalks

